A total of eight teams, including three from Siskiyou County, are taking part in the two-day 2013 Marble Mountain Baseball Tournament in Scott Valley beginning today.The early season event, hosted by Etna High, gives the schools some good early season competition. Yreka, along with Tulelake, are the other Siskiyou County teams taking part. Games are being held in Etna and in Fort JonesThe host Lions are 2-3 for the year and dominated Bonanza in a two-game sweep at home on Tuesday. Etna also downed Yreka in a scrimmage match in Yreka last Friday.

Lions head coach Collin Krueger said that it's a fun event for the players as they get to play in front of the home fans early in the season. After all, he said, Etna's home contests are a bit limited this season. Following the tournament the Lions will be at home only three more times in the regular season. All three of these games are league doubleheaders.

"I think its great for our kids for sure," Krueger said. "It's a good early season event for us and our fans."

He added that the games will be a challenge and will give them good early season experience as they get ready for the Shasta Cascade League season.The Lions are the defending SCL league champions.Yreka is currently 1-3-1 for the year. Head coach Jason Freitas said he is looking forward to his team hopefully putting things together and performing well at the tourney versus good competition.This includes former longtime Northern Athletic League rival West Valley and league opponents Central Valley and Anderson.

While the squad has struggled a bit as of late he believes the team has the talent to bounce back and perform well at the tournament. These early season games are great preparation as the squad refines their game and hopefully make positive strives as they look to defend their NAL league title, he said.